Data Dump: News you can use

More than three yearsin the making, the NextGeneration ScienceStandards are here.

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Next Generation Science Standards are Here

More than three years in the making, the Next Generation Science Standards are here. The K–12 science standards are the result of a collaborative, stateled process aimed at providing all students with an internationally benchmarked science education. An executive summary of the standards states, “Coupling practice with content gives the learning context, whereas practices alone are activities, and content alone is memorization. The integration of rigorous content and application reflects how science and engineering is practiced in the real world.” Public opinion about the standards is mixed. In a recent New York Times article, authors Jennifer Cutraro and Katherine Schulten asked, “What Do You Think of the New Next Generation Science Standards?” One teacher writes, “I think the new standards are the way to go, and the fact that they are tied to the Common Core helps to align education in three major fields.” Another writes, “Frankly, these standards as reported don’t sound that different from what my now-high-school-graduate children were taught.” What do you think? Learn more at www.nextgenscience.org

PARCC Releases Performance Level Descriptors Draft

The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) released the draft grade- and subject-specific performance level descriptors (PLDs) in English language arts/literacy (ELA) and mathematics for public comment. These new draft grade- and subjectspecific PLDs aim to further articulate the knowledge, skills, and practices that students performing at a given level should be able to demonstrate in each content area. PARCC invited public comment on the draft through May 8, 2013, and will vote on the adoption of the final PLDs during their joint session on June 26, 2013. Read more at www.parcconline.org/plds.

CoSN Refreshes Acceptable Use Policy Guide for School Districts

CoSN has issued a refreshed acceptable use policy (AUP) guide, titled “Rethinking Acceptable Use Policies to Enable Digital Learning: A Guide for School Districts.” The AUP Guide addresses the following eight key questions:

1. How does policy differ from procedure, and does the difference matter?

2. What federal laws regulate Internet use in schools?

3. What state laws regulate Internet use in schools?

4. What are the ways that school districts develop or revise the AUP?

5. When—and how often—should school district AUPs be updated?

6. What are the implications of moving from an acceptable use policy to a responsible use policy?

7. Where can you find samples of AUPs?

8. What are some timely, relevant, and useful resources pertaining to the use of digital media for learning?

What You Can Do Environment Canada wants everybody to know how they can be an important part of Canadaâ€™s environmental health. This website has special sections directed at students and ideas for them to contribute to a green future for their school, community, country and globe.

Teaching practice can improve if teachers can look at themselves and student data in an objective manner. In most teacher education programs, teachers were not taught to use data to design curriculum and analyze their teaching practices. Teachers need training in both data management and data analysis as well as in

Week of: March 24, 2008 Schools Turn to Biometrics School systems are embracing biometrics as a tool to make routine activities—like taking attendance or paying for lunch—easier and more efficient. Deal Expands Open Source Content Availability Curriki, the nonprofit

More than 50 chief informationofficers and superintendentsgathered at the IntercontinentalHotel in Atlanta, Ga. for twodays in June to discuss, debate,and commiserate about the mostprovocative topic in education technologytoday—student data and what to do withit.

101 Things You Can Do in the First Three Weeks of Class This site advcates that the first three weeks of school are the most important for setting "the mood" for learning and instruction. The site outlines a guide to follow. Use these suggestions to prepare for a new school year or for a new teaching

More than 50 chief information officers and superintendents gathered at the Intercontinental Hotel in Atlanta, Ga. for two days in June to discuss, debate, and commiserate about the most provocative topic in education technology today—student data and what to do with it.

UC To Vet Online Courses on Student Transcripts As virtual schools and Internet classes proliferate, colleges are faced with making decisions about how to treat these classes when they appear on a prospective student's transcript. Web Donation Site Helps Bring Resources To Needy Classrooms Teachers know all too well